Faith, Hope & Love » father

Father’s Day

Wayne Alexander — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:19:16 +0000

Once you’re a parent you have a whole new paradigm through which to see your own parents. I’m blessed to be able to say that being a parent has only increased my respect for how much my Mum and Dad sacrificed and loved my brother and I.

I know that this Father’s Day I’ll have mixed feelings between the joy that comes from being a Dad and the pain of missing my Dad’s friendship in my life. Life and faith is often like this; the tension of two truths at once that can cause almost opposite reactions or feelings. On Father’s Day, I’ll be especially glad for how Jesus taught us to pray and gave us a whole new paradigm through which to see and approach a relationship with God: ‘Our Father…’

A Child’s perspective on my sabbatical

Wayne Alexander — Sun, 16 May 2010 12:21:47 +0000

So, I’m beginning my sabbatical in about three hours. It’s a strange thing – it really is – to be released and invited to ‘stop’ when you’re used to a rhythm that requires you to keep producing. PBC was incredibly supportive this morning and lots of people have said some very kind things. As for my preaching this morning, I tried my best to give us a basic theology of children that will fuel a re-commitment churchwide to Promiseland, without using ‘guilt’. I’m not sure I managed it – it’s really hard to highlight a family need without the guilt thing rearing its ugly head in our hearts. What’s the difference between conviction and unhelpful guilt I wonder? I also forgot to pray for the great Christian schoolteachers that we have in our church who work with children day in and day out. God smiles on your service!

I got home and spoke to my daughter, about the fact this morning was the last time we’ll be at PBC for a couple of months. She looked bright eyed and excited before saying, ‘Great – we’re never going to church again. Great!’ When we replied, ‘Not quite darling, we’ll be visiting other churches,’ she said with a smile, ‘Great – we’ll go to other churches!’ I think that’s the definition of being easily pleased, and kind of sums up how I’m feeling as I recover from my burnout. If I never went to ‘big’ church again, and instead hung out with a few friends for prayer and the Christian walk, I feel like part of me would be ok with that. But I also know that there is a huge part of me – if it can be renewed and refreshed – that longs to learn a rhythm of living that helps me to be fully alive in the midst of leading a large church with all its potential, joys and sadness that it involves. God knows I need Him to replenish me and help me to recapture that first love for Him, as well as for his Body.

I aim to record lots of my sabbatical journey on here, and I hope you’ll consider staying for the ride. Right, now to finish all my e-mails, tidy the office, write a few letters and close the door…

I’m home

Wayne Alexander — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:31:09 +0000

I’m back at home – The flight was simple (flights are simple if you don’t have children climbing all over you!) but as usual on a flight I couldn’t sleep a wink. That means I’ve got to try to make it until at least 6pm tonight before going to bed. Should be fun. My lovely ladies were so delighted to see me. My daughter’s face and reaction when I walked in the door was something I’ll never forget.

When the dust has settled I’ll comment on my incredible morning yesterday (Sunday) at Willow Creek’s service at their main auditorium… wow, wow, wow. I’ll also try and sum up the week and tell some stories about some of the infectious (not Swine flu…) Willow members I’ve had the privilege to meet but haven’t mentioned yet.

Visit to Willow Creek – Departing England Part Two

Wayne Alexander — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:57:02 +0000

The weeks leading up to my departure had been extremely busy. Preparing to be away for about 10 days was not easy, not least the idea of being away from my beautiful wife and two precious girls. There was also lots to be done at church, and at home, including a heavy teaching and course programme, as well as preparing the church for its crucial presentation of our future building project, which will be the biggest building project in PBC’s history.

I was so excited. Deep within me I had a giddy excitement that I can only compare to the feeling that you have as a child approaching Christmas: you know its going to be great, but you’re not quite sure what exactly to expect. I found some great flights with BA and an excellent deal at a hotel in Downtown Chicago for the first two nights of my trip. I knew I’d need a couple of days to adjust to the time difference before heading to my host family and attending Willow Creek.

Bren took me to the airport, and we had a great coffee together in terminal 5. I still couldn’t believe I was really going. We made an agreement together that we would each read a chapter of Proverbs every morning as a spiritual discipline in these coming days. God was knitting this trip together, because Bren’s gift to me in those last few minutes was to help me begin preparing my heart to be in the right place for what he knew would be a life transforming experience. It had been go, go, go at work, and he began ‘slowing me down’ and centering me on Christ. I’m so grateful for his friendship.

In the security queue at Heathrow, I stood behind Howard from Take That. He was a really pleasant guy. On the plane I sat next to a lovely Christian lady from Chicago who was flying home to the US for Thanksgiving, who went to a Vineyard church in Chicago. When I told her where I was going, she was really complimentary about Willow and said that it had provided her own church with about a 1000 hampers of food to give away to its own neighbourhood. What a great piece of positive news; how Willow had helped one church to bless its neighbours. Very cool. I wonder what news is shared in similar kinds of ‘chance’ conversations about PBC?

The 8-hour flight went really quickly, particularly because I’m used to travelling with a toddler and a baby to look after! I was already really missing them – it felt so strange to be on this adventure without my family.